Danish version of the Oswestry disability index for patients with low back pain. Part 2: Sensitivity, specificity and clinically significant improvement in two low back pain populations

In studies evaluating the efficacy of clinical interventions, it is of paramount importance that the functional outcome measures are responsive to clinically relevant change. Knowledge thereof is in fact essential for the choice of instrument in clinical trials and for clinical decision-making. This article endeavours to investigate the sensitivity, specificity and clinically significant improvement (responsiveness) of the Danish version of the Oswestry disability index (ODI) in two back pain populations. Two hundred and thirty three patients with low back pain (LBP) and/or leg pain completed a questionnaire booklet at baseline and 8 weeks follow-up. Half of the patients were seen in the primary (PrS) and half in the secondary sectors (SeS) of the Danish Health Care System. The booklet contained the Danish version of the ODI, along with the Roland Morris Questionnaire, the LBP Rating Scale, the SF36 (physical function and bodily pain scales) and a global pain rating. At follow-up, a 7-point transition question (TQ) of patient perceived change and a numeric rating scale relating to the importance of the change were included. Responsiveness was operationalised using three strategies: change scores, standardised response means (SRM) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. All methods revealed acceptable responsiveness of the ODI in the two patient populations which was comparable to the external instruments. SRM of the ODI change scores at 2 months follow-up was 1.0 for PrS patients and 0.3 for SeS (raw and percentage). A minimum clinically important change (MCID) from baseline score was established at 9 points (71%) for PrS patients and 8 points (27%) for SeS patients using ROC analyses. This was dependable on the baseline entry score with the MCID increasing with 5 points for every 10 points increase in the baseline score. We conclude that the Danish version of the ODI has comparable responsiveness to other commonly used functional status measures and is appropriate for use in low back pain patients receiving conservative care in both the primary and secondary sector.     

Secondary reconstruction of the short philtrum in the bilateral cleft deformity

Summary This technique for reconstruction of the short philtrum requires an understanding of the viscoelastic properties of the skin and how to use these to increase skin dimensions. This is combined with contouring and splinting with a subcutaneous cartilage graft. Three representative cases are presented to illustrate the method to achieve an aesthetically acceptable lip and its long-term follow-up. No complications have been encountered using this over a 15-year period. The technique can be combined with other secondary reconstructive procedures on the lip and palate. Work completed at: Providence Hospital, 16001 West Nine Mile Road, P.O. Box 2043, Southfield, Michigan 48037, USA     

A new method for the correction of secondary unilateral cleft lip nose

Summary In 1982, Dibbell described a procedure to correct this distortion by rotating and advancing the nostril medially and superiorly. We used this method in our department for several years, but as Dibbell himself experienced, we didn't always obtain satisfactory results. Like many authors, I agree that the best approach for proper correction of the secondary unilateral cleft lip nose deformity is the external approach using transcolumellar incisions, because the lower lateral cartilage exposure is inadequate with Dibbell's method. I added the transcolumellar incision similar to Bardach's to solve this problem. In this paper, this combination technique will be presented and contrasted with Dibbell's and Bardach's techniques.     

中效人胰岛素联合瑞格列奈治疗磺脲类降糖药继发性失效临床观察

目的观察中效人胰岛素与瑞格列奈联合应用治疗磺脲类降糖药继发性失效的疗效。方法将磺脲类降糖药继发性失效(SFS)36例病例随机分成两组,分别接受睡前小剂量中效人胰岛素加瑞格列奈(A组,20例)和单纯瑞格列奈(B组,16例)治疗,比较两组各生化指标。结果①治疗前空腹血糖(FPG)、餐后2小时血糖(2hPG)、C肽(C-P)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)水平两组间无统计学差异;②治疗3个月后两组自身的FPG、2hPG、C-P、HbA1c水平均较治疗前明显改善,P值分别为0.01、0.05、0.05、0.01;③治疗3个月后FPG、2hPG、C-P、HbA1c水平A组均低于B组,P值分别<0.01、0.05、0.05、0.01。结论中效人胰岛素联合瑞格列奈和单用瑞格列奈治疗磺脲类降糖药继发性失效均有疗效,胰岛素和瑞格列奈联用优于单用瑞格列奈。     

Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for preoperative parathyroid imaging in primary hyperparathyroidism

Fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) imaging was performed in seven consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism to preoperatively locate parathyroid adenomas. Foci of FDG accumulation corresponding to abnormal parathyroid tissue were observed in two out of nine surgically excised parathyroid adenomas. It was concluded that FDG PET imaging demonstrated a too low sensitivity for systematic preoperative detection and localization of parathyroid glands causing primary hyperparathyroidism.     

脑卒中与继发性癫癎

目的:探讨首发脑卒中患者继发性癫癎的发病率、发病时间与脑卒中病变部位的关系。方法:回顾性分析经我院近3年来治疗的659例首发脑卒中住院患者的临床资料。结果:首发脑卒中患者继发癫癎发生率为8.19%(54/659)。癫癎发作与卒中病变部位有关,累及皮层或邻近皮层者易继发癫癎(53.33%,24/45)。54例继发癫癎中68.52%为早发性癫癎(起病后2周内),余31.48%为晚发性癫癎(起病2周以后)。以脑出血继发早发性癫癎为主(81.25%,13/16);脑梗死则易发生晚发性癫癎(60.00%,12/20)。结论:分析首发卒中后癫癎的发病特点有助于指导临床治疗。     

外伤性白内障术后二期人工晶状体植入术

目的 探讨外伤性白内障术后二期植入后房型人工晶状体的时机和手术方式。方法 对34例(34只眼)外伤性白内障术后无晶状体眼根据不同情况采用直接睫状沟植入法或缝线固定法进行二期植入后房型人工晶状体，观察两组患者的术后反应和治疗效果。结果 直接睫状沟植入法14只眼(41．2％)，缝线固定法20只眼(58．8％)，31只眼(91．2％)视力达到0．1以上，21只眼(61．76％)视力达0．3以上，28只眼(82．4％)术后矫正视力等于或高于术前最佳矫正视力。结论 选取合适的时机和方式二期植入人工晶状体，有助于减少术后并发症，提高视功能的恢复。     

Total Parathyroidectomy With Autotransplantation in Haemodialysed Patients With Secondary Hyperparathyroidism--Should It Be Abandoned?

The development of secondary hyperparathyroidism is almost universalin patients with end-stage renal disease. Medical managementfrequently fails and in such circumstances parathyroidectomybecomes a necessity. Total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantationof parathyroid tissue into the patient's forearm has been advocatedas the surgical procedure of choice. In a previous publicationwe reported our experience with this technique in six haemodialysedpatients. We now extend our follow-up to 19 patients over anobservation period ranging from 6 to 66 months. Five of thesepatients required graft removal because of recurrent secondaryhyperparathyroidism. Despite total graft removal, two patientshad clinical and laboratory evidence of persistent hyperparathyroidism.Histology of the removed graft tissue demonstrated severe hyperplasiaas well as invasion of adjacent muscle, adipose tissue, andvascular channels by parathyroid cells. This raises the possibilityof local and distant metastatic spread of parathyroid tissueresulting in hyperparathyroidism. We suggest that parathyroidautotransplantation is potentially hazardous and should in factbe abandoned.     

Secondary hyperparathyroidism and acute tubular necrosis following renal transplantation

In the present study we investigated the relationship betweensecondary hyperparathyroidism in renal graft recipients andpost-transplantation acute tubular necrosis (ATN). Patientswere divided into two groups according to graft function: groupA consisted of 28 patients who had an uneventful postoperativeperiod and did not require haemodialysis. Group B comprised26 patients with primary non-function of the graft due to biopsy-provenATN who required continued haemodialysis for the first postoperativeweek or longer (mean 14.2 ±8.7 days). Both groups hadcomparable donor characteristics, HLA-matching and ischaemiatimes. All patients were given cyclospo-rin and low-dose prednisolonefor immunosuppression. Pretransplant levels of intact PTH weresignificantly greater in group B than in group A (203.5 ±193.1pg/ml versus 81.7±45.2 pg/ml, P<0.01). Group B patientshad more transplant biopsies (50 versus 7) and a longer hospitalizationtime (33.4 ± 10.9 days versus 21.9 ± 11.9 days,P<0.01), although serum creatinine on the day of dischargewas higher in group B (1.77 ± 0.51 mg/dl versus 1.5±0.45mg/dl, P<0.05). We conclude that patients with secondaryhyperparathyroidism as assessed by measuring circulating levelsof intact PTH have an increased incidence of ATN.     

Sequence analysis of L RNA of Lassa virus

The L RNA of three Lassa virus strains originating from Nigeria, Ghana/Ivory Coast, and Sierra Leone was sequenced and the data subjected to structure predictions and phylogenetic analyses. The L gene products had 2218-2221 residues, diverged by 18% at the amino acid level, and contained several conserved regions. Only one region of 504 residues (positions 1043-1546) could be assigned a function, namely that of an RNA polymerase. Secondary structure predictions suggest that this domain is very similar to RNA-dependent RNA polymerases of known structure encoded by plus-strand RNA viruses, permitting a model to be built. Outside the polymerase region, there is little structural data, except for regions of strong alpha-helical content and probably a coiled-coil domain at the N terminus. No evidence for reassortment or recombination during Lassa virus evolution was found. The secondary structure-assisted alignment of the RNA polymerase region permitted a reliable reconstruction of the phylogeny of all negative-strand RNA viruses, indicating that Arenaviridae are most closely related to Nairoviruses. In conclusion, the data provide a basis for structural and functional characterization of the Lassa virus L protein and reveal new insights into the phylogeny of negative-strand RNA viruses.